He kissed the top of my head, and I believed him, stupidly believed him. In these small moments I felt like I was losing myself, I didn’t fawn over a guy, that was not and never would be me, and yet here I was, wrapped in his arms, listening to his every word.
“You can’t promise you will never hurt me, you will. Everyone hurts the ones they love some way or another.”
“Oh good, you’re awake.”
Serena. She had returned, and I think if it were anyone else Darius wouldn’t have cared if he stayed naked, but this was his mother, and the first time he had ever seen her, met her, or heard her voice. Turning around to face her, I blocked her from seeing him fully, and she laughed a little.
“I can see you finished the bond, that’s good, it will make today easier.”
She was dressed so modestly; a light blue gown fell to her ankles and her long black hair was braided on either side of her head. She was dressed as if she were from another time. Clapping her hands, two vampires appeared in the room bringing trays of breakfast foods as well as a pot of tea, sugars, and milk.
“You can put them over there.”
She ordered them as the vampires placed the trays down on the vanity, and then quickly left the room, leaving the three of us standing there.
“Go and get washed and dressed, the wardrobe is stocked with clothes for both of you. I will be back in a few minutes.”
She didn’t even make eye contact with Darius, leaving the room and locking the door behind her. I turned to face him again and his eyes were glassy as if he were to cry but yet no sadness came to me, only confusion and loss.
“Was that...?” He asked, still staring at the door.
“Yes. That was your mother, Serena.”
Disbelief and dread flooded me, and I had to filter through his emotions and mine, this was going to be difficult, especially in a fight.
“I think we best get dressed. We can’t exactly escape while in the nude.”
I lightly brushed my hand against his cheek before leaving him and heading to the wardrobe. I wish I had known there were clothes here yesterday as I had desperately wanted to be clean. Opening the wardrobe door there was only one change of underwear, and a long white velvet dress hanging up. Great.
Taking the clothes and heading to the bathroom, I quickly showered, and once I was dressed and came out of the bathroom, I saw that Darius was still standing there.
“Darius, get your ass in that shower. We can deal with your feelings later, but for now we have bigger things to deal with.”
Brushing my hair and then pouring myself a cup of tea, I felt Darius' anger through our bond, and rolled my eyes at it. If he was directing that anger towards me, he would be greeted with an even worse fate than the one we were heading for.
“That was my mother, Hayley! Give a guy a moment to deal!” He shouted.
Taking a sip of my drink then placing it calmly down on the tray, I walked towards him with my fist already closed, and punched him in the face. Feeling a slight sting on my own face, great.
“I don’t give a shit if it was the Queen of Bloody England! Get it together!” I spat back, “We have to get out of this! Jackson is on his way, and I will be damned if I am killed because of your fucking feelings! Now get showered, and get fucking dressed!!”
His eyes darkened as he brought a hand to the back of my head, pulling my hair lightly, forcing my face to lift and look up at his.
“That will be the very last time you ever punch me in the face.”
Oddly enough, I felt slightly aroused by his sudden dominance, and if we were in a different time and certainty not on the countdown of our lives, I would have possibly demanded he take me there. He smiled his coy smile as he felt those feelings too and landed a rough and passionate kiss on my lips before leaving and heading to the bathroom, leaving me flustered.
“Asshole.”
"Yes I am.” He shouted back.
Rolling my eyes, I sat on the bed waiting for him or Serena to return.
24
Eventually, when exactly Darius came out of the bathroom dressed in a ceremonial gown, I had to choke back the laughter that was desperate to escape from me. I thought I looked silly, but he looked ridiculous.
Shooting me a look of ‘don’t you dare say a word,’ I gestured a zipping motion across my mouth as my cheeks blew out trying to contain my amusement.